The Dark Knight Rising: A Review
My initial plan was to review this feature three weeks ago, but the incident in Aurora, Colorado happened. Aurora is right next to my hometown of Denver, Colorado, a suburb, and the shooting by the person (who I will not name), is and was senseless. Nonetheless, I am compelled to offer my sympathies, condolences, and thoughts to the victims and families...
This past week I had an opportunity to see Batman -- The Dark Knight Rises. I had hoped with all the hype, before the drama of the last couple weeks, that it would be worth sitting in the dark and escaping the social ills of today -- but alas, no. Political theater entered the The Dark Knight Rises with all the subtlety of a sledge hammer and thus messaging by Christopher Nolan signals to those that "The Reign of Terror" will be visited upon those who fail to return the equity they have taken from the community-at-large.
All images, videos, and copyrighted material belongs to Syncopy, DC Comics.
In brief, The Dark Knight Rises is an analogy that reflects the last decade of selfishness by those companies and individuals in the upper echelons of the two percent that continue to fail to recognize that their continued success is dependent upon the other 98 percent. The self-service and the attitude towards the political correctness and the trading of rights for security as the underling message demonstrated in a short-handed fashion a society ready to burn. The superficiality, the political angst, and malaise that belies the institutions of our democracy are shown within The Dark Knight Rises as the criminals and the primary antagonist, Bane (Tom Hardy), take over Gotham.
Yet, in the character of Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale), and his alter-ego, Batman, is the representation of loss, sacrifice, and bitterness. His wounds to his psyche from the loss of beloved Rachel (Maggie Gyllenhaal), from the last movie The Dark Knight, are raw and are still reaped with fatalism. Bruce Wayne has become a shut in, aka Howard Hughes, in emotion and in the physicality of his life. He has let others do for him and has become part of the problem. The company he once ran,Wayne Industries, has been infiltrated but by a robber-baron philosophy -- say for a couple people Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman) and Mirand (Marion Cotillard). It is however, Alfred (Michael Caine), who tries to explain to Bruce Wayne that his inability to move on from the death of Rachel and his need to sacrifice himself is a tragedy to Shakespeare proportion. His inability to find redemption for himself and others has left him trapped in a never ending cycle of grief, pain, and misery. Bruce's need, obsession, to fix injustice, to believe that the weak need defending may be his undoing.
Nonetheless, before the confrontation with Alfred, Bruce Wayne's character finds himself and others irredeemable. He has lost interest until it is reawaken by a challenge from Selina Kyle (Anne Hathaway). She reminds Bruce that there injustice in many forms and it depends on who is doing the viewing. As Selina puts it,
Director Christopher Nolan has done a masterful job of storytelling and provided an opportunity for the audience with enough action to soothe the most ardent fan. The pacing of the film is well suited and the musical score is not overwrought. However, the final epic of the Dark Knight, does fail in one respect and it is the feel of Philip K. Dick ending. The Dark Knight Rises is more than worth the price of admission, it is worth the popcorn and sodas too. To the fans of Batman enjoy! To the fans of action - enjoy! And, to those to who fail to recognize the 98 percent be forewarned.
This past week I had an opportunity to see Batman -- The Dark Knight Rises. I had hoped with all the hype, before the drama of the last couple weeks, that it would be worth sitting in the dark and escaping the social ills of today -- but alas, no. Political theater entered the The Dark Knight Rises with all the subtlety of a sledge hammer and thus messaging by Christopher Nolan signals to those that "The Reign of Terror" will be visited upon those who fail to return the equity they have taken from the community-at-large.
All images, videos, and copyrighted material belongs to Syncopy, DC Comics.
In brief, The Dark Knight Rises is an analogy that reflects the last decade of selfishness by those companies and individuals in the upper echelons of the two percent that continue to fail to recognize that their continued success is dependent upon the other 98 percent. The self-service and the attitude towards the political correctness and the trading of rights for security as the underling message demonstrated in a short-handed fashion a society ready to burn. The superficiality, the political angst, and malaise that belies the institutions of our democracy are shown within The Dark Knight Rises as the criminals and the primary antagonist, Bane (Tom Hardy), take over Gotham.
Yet, in the character of Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale), and his alter-ego, Batman, is the representation of loss, sacrifice, and bitterness. His wounds to his psyche from the loss of beloved Rachel (Maggie Gyllenhaal), from the last movie The Dark Knight, are raw and are still reaped with fatalism. Bruce Wayne has become a shut in, aka Howard Hughes, in emotion and in the physicality of his life. He has let others do for him and has become part of the problem. The company he once ran,Wayne Industries, has been infiltrated but by a robber-baron philosophy -- say for a couple people Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman) and Mirand (Marion Cotillard). It is however, Alfred (Michael Caine), who tries to explain to Bruce Wayne that his inability to move on from the death of Rachel and his need to sacrifice himself is a tragedy to Shakespeare proportion. His inability to find redemption for himself and others has left him trapped in a never ending cycle of grief, pain, and misery. Bruce's need, obsession, to fix injustice, to believe that the weak need defending may be his undoing.
Nonetheless, before the confrontation with Alfred, Bruce Wayne's character finds himself and others irredeemable. He has lost interest until it is reawaken by a challenge from Selina Kyle (Anne Hathaway). She reminds Bruce that there injustice in many forms and it depends on who is doing the viewing. As Selina puts it,
You think this will last? There is a storm coming, Mr.Wayne. You and your friends better batten down the hatches, 'cause when it hits you all are gonna wonder how you could live so large and leave so little for the rest of us.The selfishness of the elite who fail to their fare share will face the angry mob. It is a cleansing, if you will, and the elite will be sacrificed for their indiscretions. Harvey Dent, the villain, Two Face, from the last movie-- The Dark Knight, has been defied as a hero who sacrificed all in order to protect the Gotham citizenry, but in doing so, the elite have squandered the opportunity to provide equity for all.
Director Christopher Nolan has done a masterful job of storytelling and provided an opportunity for the audience with enough action to soothe the most ardent fan. The pacing of the film is well suited and the musical score is not overwrought. However, the final epic of the Dark Knight, does fail in one respect and it is the feel of Philip K. Dick ending. The Dark Knight Rises is more than worth the price of admission, it is worth the popcorn and sodas too. To the fans of Batman enjoy! To the fans of action - enjoy! And, to those to who fail to recognize the 98 percent be forewarned.
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